by Edward Chaykovsky

Former middleweight world champion Daniel Geale has returned to his hometown of Launceston to promote his ring return.

The boxer will enter the square circle for the first time since getting knocked out by then WBC middleweight champion Miguel Cotto in June of last year. That fight took place at a catch-weight of 157-pounds and he really struggled to make the weight.

Geale (31-4, 16KOs) is moving up to the super middleweight limit of 168-pounds and he takes on Sydney's Renold Quinlan (10-1, 6KOs) on October 14th for the vacant IBO championship.

Geale, at 35-years-old, feels confident that he still has a lot to offer. - although he's lost three of his last five fights.

He believes the drop in weight will help him a lot in the coming fights and hopes to start a new chapter with the upcoming fight.

"I wanted to come back to Launceston for a long time and fight here," Geale told ABC Online. "I love fighting in front of a home crowd and having that support. It has been a pretty tough 12 months but I'm ready — I've still got that burning desire deep down and I want more now, I want to win more titles."

"He's an explosive-type fighter. He's been at super middleweight for a long time, he's a big, strong guy and I'm stepping up so I've got a little bit to prove there. I'm not going to be taking him easy at all, he can take a good shot and he lands a good shot too, so I need to be on my game. Moving up in weight bringing out my best."

"Now having that comfort in not having to kill myself to make weight I'm enjoying what I do, and when I enjoy what I do, hopefully, that's what's going to bring the best out of me, he said. I love the sport of boxing, I still believe I've got something left to offer as well. When that desire stops I'll obviously step away."